The Midway State

What music are you listening to / art are you checking out these days?

Daenen: Tegan and Sara’s new album, “The Con.”
 

Mike Kirsh: We just got off a tour with Mobile, so I’ve been listening to them.
 

Mike Wise: Kings of Leon, Lady GaGa.

Why should people, especially youth, vote?

Daenen: I think it’s important because we live in a country where we have the opportunity to vote and influence government. Regardless of the current state of things, I think lots of people feel that they can’t make a difference, but the reality is we can. If you don’t get involved now, when will you? I don’t think you should let other people decide for you.

Mike K: Yeah, otherwise, it’s totalitarianism.

For you, is there a connection between art and democracy? What is it?

Mike W: If you have people listening to you speak, you have to use the voice you have. As a band with fans, you have people listening to you, so you have to use your influence responsibly.

What music are you listening to / art are you checking out these days?

Daenen: Tegan and Sara’s new album, “The Con.”
 

Mike Kirsh: We just got off a tour with Mobile, so I’ve been listening to them.
 

Mike Wise: Kings of Leon, Lady GaGa.

Why should people, especially youth, vote?

Daenen: I think it’s important because we live in a country where we have the opportunity to vote and influence government. Regardless of the current state of things, I think lots of people feel that they can’t make a difference, but the reality is we can. If you don’t get involved now, when will you? I don’t think you should let other people decide for you.

Mike K: Yeah, otherwise, it’s totalitarianism.

For you, is there a connection between art and democracy? What is it?

Mike W: If you have people listening to you speak, you have to use the voice you have. As a band with fans, you have people listening to you, so you have to use your influence responsibly.

What music are you listening to / art are you checking out these days?

Daenen: Tegan and Sara’s new album, “The Con.”
 

Mike Kirsh: We just got off a tour with Mobile, so I’ve been listening to them.
 

Mike Wise: Kings of Leon, Lady GaGa.

Why should people, especially youth, vote?

Daenen: I think it’s important because we live in a country where we have the opportunity to vote and influence government. Regardless of the current state of things, I think lots of people feel that they can’t make a difference, but the reality is we can. If you don’t get involved now, when will you? I don’t think you should let other people decide for you.
 

Mike K: Yeah, otherwise, it’s totalitarianism.

For you, is there a connection between art and democracy? What is it?

Mike W: If you have people listening to you speak, you have to use the voice you have. As a band with fans, you have people listening to you, so you have to use your influence responsibly.

Why do you care about community when it is so easy not to?
Was there one moment that changed your perspective or prompted you to get involved?

Mike W: We’ve played a bunch of charity concerts – a lot of my family are really involved with fundraising for the developing world, especially for fighting AIDS in Africa. My dad is on the board of Canada’s branch of Feed the Children, and I went to Africa with him once. We were in Ghana and he took me to some refugee camps. Seeing that first-hand really inspired me to take action.

What do you look for in a politician? What do you expect from your MP?

Mike W: I watch how politicians speak and try to see if I get a good, intelligent vibe from them. Of course, nice hair is always important.
 

Mike K: I look for leadership qualities, but also for someone who doesn’t have too much power. I want someone who can translate between me and the government, so someone who is well spoken.
 

Daenen: This [the 2008 federal election] is one of the first elections I’ve really closely followed. Watching candidates trying to identify with us as people, communicating sometimes they’re regular people too, makes me think I don’t want “just a regular guy” in office. There’s a reason I’m not a politician. I want someone who instills confidence and I want him or her to be elite and able to hold their own, to NOT be like everyone else. I want that person to be a leader. I want that person to act like a leader. George W. Bush seems like he can party, yeah, but run a country?